One step improvements

[Diseazd]

I want to start a thread where members give one step performance improvements that gave them an economical boost in HP..... Like..... has anyone added L28 valves to an L24 E31 or E88 and put the stock engine back together and reported on that mod improvement alone. That would be a real easy and economical mod that would put L28 type flow with the shorter stroke L24 block. I would be interested in that result........or maybe someone just put an European rapid advance distributor......nothing else. How did that help. What else?

[Zs-ondabrain]

Gread idea. I've been looking into the Ford V6 Coil-pack, EDIS6, MegaJolt ignition system from http://www.autosportlabs.com/

Less HP drop from the stock Dizzy, programmable Everything, works on FI and carb systems, etc, etc. This will go on the 260Z.

Dave

Here's what I have so far....

[d240zx2]

I can't speak specifically to a HP increase, but the addition of a Pertronix ignition module certainly helped with the starting and drivability of my Z. I'll not go back to P & C without a fight.

Frank

[70 Cam Guy]

Seems like everything I have done has made an incremental improvement to the drivability and seat-of-the-pants performance to this point. My car sat in a garage for nearly 15 years before I bought it so I installed some Craigslist 4-screw SU's with throttle shafts in good shape and did a general tune-up.

I junked the rusty original exhaust for a down-pipe back exhaust. A little improvement over original and the sound was so nice

The next improvement really woke up the car above 4500 rpm. I ditched the points dizzy for a ZX e12-80 distributor with a fresh cap/rotor. Bypass the resistor and suddenly the car needs less choke to start cold and it runs much smoother. The upper rev range really smoothed out.

The last major change, I wish I could have dyno'ed a before and after. I took the exhaust another step and installed a Clifford header and N36 intake (another CL score). The N36 is different internally from the N33, I have both and was curious. Coolant is also no longer routed behind the head or through the intake manifold. It really wants to rev now, and the header made the single flowmaster silly loud on its own (added a glass pack in the middle). This one actually took a little time to readjust driving the car.

Other mods are brewing but I'm waiting on my friend to build his engine before the parts are available. I also installed a low pressure electric fuel pump in the rear, and a ZX alternator with Dave's adaptor plug. Both are very much worth it

I like the idea of EDIS, as well as Electromotive's Direct Fire Ignition for the sheer tuning ability (basically a tunable wasted spark system).

[70 Cam Guy]

Gread idea. I've been looking into the Ford V6 Coil-pack, EDIS6, MegaJolt ignition system from http://www.autosportlabs.com/

Less HP drop from the stock Dizzy, programmable Everything, works on FI and carb systems, etc, etc. This will go on the 260Z.

Dave

Here's what I have so far....

Dave, I like that! Thanks, I have never seen that link before

[ChrisZ]

This is a great idea for a topic and i will follow it for sure.

I have many plans for a L28 flat top i'm going to build, EDIS controlled with Megasquirt, then i have the oppertunity to add TBI, witch i won't have with Megajolt.

E30 head, modified with bigger valves, some porting, chamber work and re ground cam.

For the time being, i'm looking in to TBI, either bike throttle bodies (Triumph TT600 / T595) or BMW M serie throttle bodies.

Total control over spark and fuel !!!

Chris

[Zs-ondabrain]

Dave, I like that! Thanks, I have never seen that link before

I found out that they are right down the road from me and wrote them. They responded with the old "Let's do Lunch" and I'm gonna see what they can do for me. I paid about $35 for all that was pictured. Wiring should be easy enough (for me) but now I have to decide whether I want to put the Coil pack on the firewall or across from the block, on the right strut tower area.

The EDIS 6 is small enought to almost slip up under the fender area in front of the battery. Or even next to the coil pack. And for $161 + the $35 I already spend and the wiring and plug wires, I should be looking at a complete system (MegaJolt, coil pack, pick-up, EDIS6, wiring and plug wires) for under $220.

I just need to get the 36/1 ring for the pick-up, weld it on the crank pully and make a custom bracket for the pick-up. Then I'll take it to they guys in Lynnwood and have them fine tune the system, etc, etc, get my window sticker and be on my way.

Dave

[240ZMan]

Adding a reground cam can be done without otherwise changing the head, and in my case noticeably increased max torque, albeit at a higher rpm. The engine also pulled well to 6500 rpm compared to about 5500 with the stock cam. I had Delta Cams do the regrind along with resurfacing the rockers and it was about $150 IIRC including shipping. There was another $40 or so for lash pads.

At the time I had the head off anyway, but it could be done with the head on the engine. I kept the stock valve springs as the head had been freshened not too long ago and the lift was only about .440" IIRC.

Of the many things I've tried, that one added the most power (and fun) to the engine - except for the turbo, but it's hard to call that a "single step".

[jmortensen]

I just need to get the 36/1 ring for the pick-up, weld it on the crank pully and make a custom bracket for the pick-up. Then I'll take it to they guys in Lynnwood and have them fine tune the system, etc, etc, get my window sticker and be on my way.

Go overkill on the bracket. Figure what you think will be strong enough, then make it twice as thick. I've seen 4 or 5 guys stranded because their bracket flexed and the crank pulley wore the end of the trigger off. There are a couple threads on hybridz about pulleys, might want to check them out.

[alhbln]

Gread idea. I've been looking into the Ford V6 Coil-pack, EDIS6, MegaJolt ignition system from http://www.autosportlabs.com/

I am currently finishing my '72 240Z Megajolt conversion, will post a report soon. As the mapping feature of the MegaJolt allows you to fine tune the advance curve in each RPM range (which would not be possible by two advance weights and some springs) on the Dyno, the engine runs much smoother and delivers more PS and torque.

It is not unusual to gain up to 10% more PS and 5-10% more torque in lower RPMs by introducing a mapped ignition (they were already there, the distributor based advance curve just didnt care for them ) Checking the air flow and using slightly larger jets can further improve engine performance even with a standard cam timing.

[cygnusx1]

I have done so many upgrades that I can't even remember all of them. Here are some one hit wonders that I highly recommend.

The biggest "single item" improvements came from:

-Poly rack bushings.

-Performance tires.

-Proper Brake pads/shoes.

-ZERO degrees of front toe for cornering.

-Replacing rusty frame rails.

-Front strut tower bar that ties to firewall.

-Sway bars,struts springs, bushings..etc

-Advance the ignition a few degrees.

-Side Gap the spark plugs. (look it up on google, it works great on a Z) not indexing.

-front airdam

-Ron Tyler differential mount

-smaller sport steering wheel

-removed 84 pounds of bumper from the 280Z.

-added AC compressor switch to allow turning on compressor in fresh air/defrost modes.

N-Joy

Edited February 23, 2010 by cygnusx1

[Zs-ondabrain]

I've bolted the coilpack and the EDIS-6 to the body, made a small harness attaching the 2 together, and now I have to buy the 36-1 ring to weld to the crank pulley so I can mount the VR to the block for pickup, then run the sheilded cables and make it ready for the MJLJ-V4.

Dave